Hoosier Catholics can relate to new pope - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Pope Francis is a pope of many firsts - from his religious mission to his cultural background.

Those history-making qualities resonate with many of the 240,000 Catholics in central and southern Indiana.

As the smoke billowed and the bells rang in Vatican City, students at St. Lawrence School in Indianapolis watched history being made with Pope Francis. An Internet news feed in their classroom allowed them to watch the pope deliver his first message to the world.

"I think it's really exciting," said sixth grader Cierra Landers. "I hope he can lead our church in the right way."

"I'm just really glad that there's a new person to help lead us closer to God," added seventh grader Andrew Penry. "It's been really exciting today finding out who the new pope is."

The new leader of the Catholic faith is a man of many firsts: the first pope to take the name Francis, the first from Latin America and the first Jesuit.

That news energized students and staff at Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School in Indianapolis, who share the Jesuit mission of social justice, helping the poor and humility.

"Very, very pleasant surprise to have the first Jesuit pope and the first pope from the Americas," said Brebeuf Religious Studies teacher Carson King.

"When we found out it was a Jesuit, we were all really excited. That's really something special for our school," said Brebeuf senior Claire Marsh. "I think it'll make the Catholic church more comfortable for people. People won't look at the pope as intimidating, but someone they can relate to."

"It does make it more personal because we're so familiar with the mission of the Jesuits," said Brebeuf junior Stu Dillon.

Indianapolis Archbishop Joseph Tobin has met Pope Francis, having worked in Rome for 20 years prior to coming to Indiana. He joked Wednesday that he hopes Brebeuf invites Pope Francis to come and visit soon.

Tobin also said the new pontiff's cultural background is significant, too.

"The election of someone who's from Latin America, who's not European, is a reminder of what Catholic means and Catholic in its original sense, the Greek word means universal," Tobin said.

For the local Hispanic community, the selection of a pope from Latin America feels very personal.

Parishioners celebrated the news at mass Wednesday night at Holy Spirit Church, which holds several Spanish-speaking masses.

"This is very important for the Hispanic or Latino community. It's like part of my family," parishioner Pedro Herrera said of Pope Francis' election.

The growing group of Hispanic Catholics in central Indiana say they now feel a closer connection to the Vatican. They're now celebrating their new pontiff and a new chapter in the church.

"It'll probably feel a little different and it'll probably be a good experience to have a Latin American as a pope now," said parishioner Macarena Angeles.